Celebrate the Opening of the Slade Collection: A Theatre & Film Lending Library
Sunday October 16 at 6pm
Fireside Room of the Ojai Art Center
Hosted by Laurie Walters-Slade
Please join us for wine, snacks …and a few surprises!
Take a look at hundreds of plays and books on film, theater history, costumes, sets, writing, teaching, acting and much more – all available for loan free!
Many thanks to the OJai Film Festival, Jon Lambert, and Joan Kemper for making this library possible, and to the Ojai Art Center for housing the collection.
After relocating to Ojai in 2001 John and Laurie Walters Slade became an integral part of the Ojai Theater Community. In fact, their roles in Ojai Shakespeare Festival’s production of Julius Caesar brought them to Ojai. John then joined Nordhoff High School as a drama and American literature instructor. He was well respected and much loved by his students. In addition to his teaching he acted in and directed productions at Ojai Art Center Theater, as well as other local venues. Then, Shakespeare entered the story in a different fateful way. John directed a production of Julius Caesar at Kingsmen Shakespeare in 2017 when, returning from rehearsal one night, his car was struck by a speeding driver and he died from his injuries.
Laurie, who remains in Ojai, is a professional stage and television actress. She has had extensive stage appearances both locally, at numerous Los Angeles theaters, and around the country. She also has a direct connection to the Ojai Art Center. Laurie directed OACT’s productions of The Crucible by Arthur Miller and As You Like It by Shakespeare, and recently made her acting debut at OACT in the wonderful Chris Durang comedy Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike.
Together, John and Laurie assembled an extensive collection of plays and books on film, theatre history, costumes, sets, writing, teaching and much more. In memory of John, and through the generosity of the Ojai Film Festival, Jon Lambert and Joan Kemper, Laurie has dedicated their collection to the Art Center. Join in the dedication hosted by Laurie on Sunday, October 16 at 6 pm in the Fireside Room of the Ojai Art Center, 113 S. Montgomery St.
If this is a recent picture I’m absolutely dumbfounded that Laurie looks the same as she did 45 years ago! She looks amazing and what a wondrous actress. Wish we those outside Ojai could watch her!